Multicultural families facing rising winter energy costs are being given new tools to manage their bills, with AusNet launching a suite of energy-saving videos in five languages to help households make smarter heating choices.
Developed in response to feedback from AusNet's Cultural Advisory Group, the videos provide practical guidance in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Hindi, Punjabi and Arabic, helping customers better understand their energy use, compare appliance costs and reduce household energy expenses.
AusNet Customer Communications Manager, Evelyn Vettivelu, said the initiative comes as cost-of-living pressures continue to impact households, with multicultural communities identifying energy bills as a major concern.
“Our Cultural Advisory Group told us that that migrants often arrive with expectations shaped by how energy is used in their home countries, where gas is often the cheaper heating option. In Australia, those assumptions can sometimes lead to unexpectedly high energy bills,” said Ms Vettivelu.
"We've developed these resources based on direct feedback from our communities, providing simple, practical information in customers’ own languages that can help them understand their energy use and take control of household costs," said Ms Vettivelu.
The videos guide customers through how to identify energy rates on their bill, calculate the cost of running household appliances and compare different heating options to find the most cost-effective way to keep their homes warm.
They also include practical energy-saving tips, advice on checking whether households are on the most suitable energy plan and information about staying safe around gas appliances.
"Understanding how energy works is empowering. It gives people the confidence to navigate an unfamiliar system, manage costs and make informed choices for their household.”
"By making this information available in multiple languages, we're removing barriers to essential information and providing families with the knowledge they need to stay warm and in control of their energy costs this winter,” said Ms Vettivelu.